Shoulder brace



May 11 1965 H. G. NELKIN 3,182,655

SHOULDER BRACE Nov. 19, 2 Sheets.shee1l l Fig.' Z WR@ T TORNE Y May 11, 1965 H. G. NELKIN i 3,182,655

SHOULDER BRACE Filed Nov. 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /3 INVENTOR.

HENRY G'. NE'LKIN 5 BY @7a4/9544,41

A T TORNEY United States Patent O 3,182,655 SHOULDER BRACE Henry G. Nelkin, Kansas City, Mo., assigner to I-I. G. Enterprises, a cti-partnership Filed Nov. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 238,453 8 Claims. (Cl. 12S-78) My invention relates to shoulder braces, and more particularly to a shoulder brace that is provided with pull straps, that are so mounted and connected with the body portion, that pulling on the ends of the straps, located at the front of the body of the wearer, will tighten the entire brace against the body and pull back the shoulders of the wearer.

My invention comprises a shoulder brace, that has a back engaging body portion of greater length than width, that has a plurality of elongated stiffening structures eX- tending lengthwise thereof from adjacent the top end thereof to adjacent the bottom end thereof, said stiifening structures consisting of a central stiifening structure and side stilfening structures,- that converge downwardly toward the central stiffening structure, said body portion having the pull straps secured at the upper corners thereof and extending through Iloops at the lower end of the body portion and thence forwardly to the front of the body of the wearer, said straps being so guided thatthey will have portions that extend from the body portion of the device around the shoulders, then to the lower end of the body portion, and thence forwardly around the :body of the wearer to the front of the wearers body.

More specifically my invention comprises a pair of upwardly and divergently extending aps on the body portion at the upper corners thereof and straps, each of which has an end secured to one of the flaps, each of said straps extending between one of a pair of guide strips, that extend lengthwise of the body portion adjacent the lower corners thereof, and through a metal loop that is mounted so as to extend at an oblique angle, the pair of loops thus provided extending in upwardly converging transversely spaced relation to each other near the mid-portion of the bottom of said body portion, and said straps extending from said lloops between said strips and the body portion to the front of the body of the wearer, where the ends thereof are adjustably secured together.

It is a further purpose of rny invention to provide a shoulder brace of the above mentioned character, that is provided with a body portion that has a body engaging facing of ventilated cushioning material and that is pro- Ivided with straps such as above referred to, each of which has a body portion engaging facing of ventilated cushioning material on a portion thereof that is near but spaced from the secured end thereof, so that the portions of said straps having the facing will be in engagement with the forward sides of the shoulders and chest of the wearer.

It is another purpose of my invention to provide means for mounting the metal loops, through which the straps extend, so that said loops will extend at oblique angles to each other in upwardly converging relationship near the middle of the lower portion of the lbody portion of the device, comprising tabs that are made of a length of webbing secured centrally to the central stiifening structure and having obliquely downwardly extending end portions that are secured at their ends to said central stiffening structure and which tabs extend through the metal loops.

`Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the description of the drawings proceeds. I desire to have it understood, however, that I do not intend to limit myself to the particular details shown or described, except as defined by the claims.

In the drawings: Y

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my improved shoulder brace, showing the same on the body of a wearer.

ice

FIG. `2 is a rear face view thereof.

FIG. I3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a similar view taken on the line 4 4 of F IG. 2, and

FIG. 5 is a similar -view taken on the line '5 5 of 'F IG. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in FIGS. 1 and 2 a shoulder brace made in accordance with my invention is shown, which has a body portion 6, which is of greater length than width and which has a pair of upwardly and divergently extending flaps 7 at the upper corners thereof, the upper edge portion of said body portion being concavely curved as shown at 8. The :bottom edge of the body portion is slightly convexly curved, as shown at 9, and the sides are slightly inwardly concavely curved as shown at 10 and said sides are joined with the lower ends of the body portion by means of convexly curved portions 11. A binding 12 is secured by means of stitching `13 to the body portion around the entire periphery thereof. Said body portion is made up of a ply of fabric 14, to which the binding 12 secures an inner facing 15 of ventilated cushioning material, which is provided with a large number of vent openings 16 therein that extend entirely therethrough. Said cushioning material is preferably made of foam rubber and is provided with a fabric cover ply 17 on the inner face thereof through which the openings y16 extend.

Said body portion 6 is provided with suitable stiffening formations comprising pairs of exible stays 1S, which are mounted in pockets provided between the strong fabric strip 19 and the fabric body ply 14 by stitching the strong fabric strip 20 to the body fabric 14 by means of transversely spaced longitudinally extending rows of stitches 21, 2.2 and 23. As will be obvious from FIGS. 1 and v2, the stiffening structures extend lengthwise of the body portion of the shoulder brace and comprise a central longitudinally extending stiffening structure 24 and a pair of side stiffening structures 25, each of which are of the same construction. =It will also be noted that the side stitfening structures Q5 converge downwardly so as to be quite close to the central stitfening structure v24 at their lower ends.

Straps 26 are secured at their ends 27 by means of transverse rows of stitching 28 to both the fabric ply 14 and the facing 15. Said straps are also provided with a facing 15', which is the samein construction as the facing 15, and. which extends for a considerable distance along the portions of the straps 26 near the ends 27, but

Vspaced from said ends Z7 so that said facing 15 will engage `the forward sides of the shoulders and chest of the wearer when the brace is in the position shown in FIG. 1. The straps 26 are made of strong substantially inex- -tensible fabric material and one of said straps is provided at the free end thereof with a buckle29.

The straps extend through a pair of metal loops 30 that are elongated, as will be obvious from FIG. t2, and suitable means is provided for mounting said loops so that the same will extend at an oblique angle to each other in upwardly converging relation to each other, as shown in FIG. 2. Said means comprises a pair of tabs, which are formed from a single piece of webbing, said webbing having a central portionV 31, which is secured tothe central stitfening structure by means of the rows of stitches 21, 22 and 23, the webbing being positioned under the strong fabric strip 20, as will be evident from FIG. 3. The webbing is turned back on itself as shown at 32 in FIG. 3, and the end portions 33 thereof are directed toward each other and extend obliquely downwardly, as will be obvious from FIG. 2, being also secured in position by means of the rows of stitching 21 and 23, which secure said downwardly directed ends of said webbing to the central portion 31 thereof and to the strong fabric strip 20.

Also mounted on the body por-tion 6 are strong fabric strips 34, said strips 34 being secured at their upper ends to the body portion by means of rows of stitching 35 and at their low ends by means of the stitching 13 that secures the binding 12 in position. Said fabric strips are thus free of the body portion between the ends thereof and extend in slightly upwardly diverging relation to each other between the outer or side stiifening structures 25 and the side edges of the body portion at the lower corners thereof.

In placing the shoulder brace in position for use on the body of the wearer, the body portion 6 of the shoulder brace is placed against the back, with the facing next to the wearers back, the straps 26 are passed over the shoulders and under the arms, between the strips 34 and the body 6 of the brace through the loops 30, then again between the strips 34 and the body of the brace and forwardly to the front of the body of the wearer where the ends of the straps 26 are available for ready adjustment of the brace with respect to the wearers body by pulling on the ends of the straps 26, the end of the strap not provided with the buckle 29 being, of course, passed through the buckle 29 to make the desired adjustment. By exerting the proper amount of pull on the strap 26 at the front of the body of the wearer, the shoulders will be pulled back by the action of the straps 26 in conjunction with the body portion 6 of the brace.

What I claim is:

l. In a shoulder brace, a back engaging body portion of greater length than width having a plurality of elongated stilfening structures extending longitudinally thereof from adjacent the top end thereof to adjacent the bottom end thereof and including a central stiffening structure, a pair of upwardly and divergently extending flaps on said body portion at the upper corners thereof, straps each having an end secured to and extending from one of said flaps, a pair of guide strips extending lengthwise of said body portion adjacent the lower corners thereof, said guide strips being secured to said body portion adjacent their ends, a pair of metal loops through which said straps extend, means for mounting said loops to extend at an oblique angle in upwardly converging transversely spaced relation to each other comprising tabs extending from said central stiffening structure, said straps each extending from the secured end thereof between a guide strip and said body portion and thence through one of said loops and back between said guide strip and said body portion, and means for detachably adjustably securing the other ends of said straps to each other.

2. In a shoulder brace, a back engaging body portion of greater length than width having a plurality of elongated stiffening structures extending longitudinally thereof from adjacent the top end thereof to adjacent the bottom end thereof and including a central stitfening structure, a pair `of upwardly and divergently extending aps on said body portion at the upper corners thereof, said body portion having a body engaging facing of ventilated cushioning material, straps each having an end secured to and extending from one of said flaps, said straps each having a body engaging facing of ventilated cushioning material on the portion thereof adjacent but spaced from the secured end thereof, a pair of guide strips extending lengthwise of said body portion adjacent the lower corners thereof, said guide strips being secured to said body portion adjacent their ends, a pair of metal loops through which said straps extend, means for mounting said loops to extend at an oblique angle in upwardly converging transversely spaced relation to each other comprising tabs extending from said central stifrening structure, said straps each extending from the secured end thereof between a guide strip and said body portion and thence through one of said loops and back between said guide strip and said body portion, and means for detachably adjustably securing the other ends of said straps to each other.

3. In a shoulder brace, a back engaging body portion of greater length than width having a plurality of elongated stilfening structures extending longitudinally thereof from adjacent the top end thereof to adjacent the bottom end thereof and including a central stiifening structure and a pair of side stiffer-ling structures spaced from said central stitfening structure and converging downwardly toward the same, a pair of upwardly and divergently extending flaps on said body portion at the upper corners thereof, straps each having an end secured to and extending from one of said aps, a pair of guide strips extending lengthwise of said body portion between said side stitfening structures and the side edges of said body portion adjacent the lower corners thereof, said guide strips being secured to said body portion adjacent their ends, a pair of metal loops through which said straps extend, means for mounting said loops to extend at an oblique angle in upwardly converging transversely spaced relation to each other comprising tabs extending from said central stiffening structure, said straps each extending from the secured end thereof between a guide strip and said body portion and thence through one of said loops and back between said guide strip and said body portion, and means for detachably adjustably securing the other ends of said straps to each other.

4. In a shoulder brace, a back engaging body portion of greater length than width having a plurality of elongated stiftening structures extending longitudinally thereof from adjacent the top end thereof to adjacent the bottom end thereof and including a central stiffening structure, a pair of upwardly and divergently extending aps on said body portion at the upper corners thereof, straps each having an end secured to and extending from one of said aps, a pair of guide strips extending lengthwise of said body portion adjacent the lower corners thereof, said guide strips being secured to said body portion adjacent their ends, a pair of metal loops through which said straps extend, means for mounting said loops to extend at an oblique angle in upwardly converging transversely spaced relation to each other comprising tabs extending from said central stitfening structure, said tabs being formed of a length of webbing secured centrally to said central stitfening structure and having obliquely downwardly extending portions extending through said loops and secured at their extremities to said central stitfening structure, said straps each extending from the secured end thereof between a guide strip and said body portion and thence through one of said loops and back between said guide strip and said body portion, and means for detachably adjustably securing the other ends of said straps to each other.

5. In a shoulder brace, a back engaging body portion of greater length than width having a plurality of elongated stilfening structures extending longitudinally thereof from adjacent the top end thereof to adjacent the bottom end thereof and including a central stiffening structure, a pair of upwardly and divergently extending flaps on said body portion at the upper corners thereof, straps each having an end Secured to and extending from one of said flaps, said straps each having a body engaging facing of ventilated cushioning material on the portion thereof adjacent but spaced from the secured end thereof, a pair of guide strips extending lengthwise of said body portion adjacent the lower corners thereof, said guide strips being secured to said body portion adjacent their ends, a pair of metal loops through which said straps extend, means for mounting said loops to extend at an oblique angle in upwardly converging transversely spaced relation to each other comprising tabs extending from said central stifening structure, said straps each extending from the secured end thereof between a guide strip and said body portion and thence through one of said loops and back between said guide strip and said body portion, said cushioning material on said straps terminating short of the portions thereof extending through said loops, and

means for detachably adjustably securing the other ends of said straps to each other.

6. In a shoulder brace, a back engaging body portion ofV greater length than width having a plurality of elongated stiifening structures extending longitudinally thereof from adjacent the top end thereof to adjacent the bottom end thereof and including a central stilfening structure, said body portion having a concavely curved top end edge, a pair of obliquely upwardly extending aps at the upper corners of said body portion at opposite ends of said top end edge, said flaps diverging upwardly, straps each having an end secured to and extending from one of said flaps, a pair of guide strips extending lengthwise of said body portion adjacent the lower corners thereof, said guide strips being secured to said body portion adjacent their ends, a pair of metal loops through which said straps extend, means for mounting said loops to extend at an oblique angle in upwardly converging transversely spaced relation to each other comprising tabs extending from said central stiffening structure, said straps each extending from the secured end thereof between a guide strip and said body portion and thence through one of said loops and back between said guide strip and said body portion, and means for detachably adjustably securing the other ends of said straps to each other.

7. In a shoulder brace, a back engaging body portion of greater length than width having fabric strips secured to said body portion and extending longitudinally thereof, each of said strips being stitched to said body portion to form a pair of adjacent parallel pockets therefrom, a stay in each of said pockets to provide a plurality of elongated stilfening structures extending longitudinally thereof from adjacent the top end thereof to adjacent the bottom end thereof and including a central stiffening structure, a pair of upwardly and divergently extending aps on said body portion at the upper corners thereof, straps each having an end secured to and extending from one of said flaps, a pair of guide strips extending lengthwise of said body portion adjacent the lower corners thereof, said guide strips being secured to said body portion adjacent their ends, a pair of metal loops through which said straps extend, means for mounting said loops to extend at an oblique angle in upwardly converging transversely spaced relation to each other comprising tabs extending from said central stiffening structure, said straps each extending from the secured end thereof between a guide strip and said body portion and thence through one of said loops and back between said guide strip and said body portion, and means for detachably adjustably securing the other ends of said straps to each other.

8. In a shoulder brace, a back engaging body portion of greater length than width having fabric strips secured to said body portion and extending longitudinally thereof, each of said strips being stitched to said body portion to form a pair of adjacent parallel pockets therefrom, a stay in each of said pockets to provide a plurality of elongated stiffening structures extending longitudinally thereof from adjacent the top end thereof to adjacent the bottom end thereof and including a central stiifening structure, a pair of upwardly and divergently extending flaps on said body portion at the upper corners thereof, straps each having an end secured to and extending from one of said flaps, a pair of guide strips extending lengthwise of said body portion adjacent the lower corners thereof, said guide strips being secured to said body portion adjacent their ends, a pair of metal loops through which said straps extend, means for mounting said loops to extend at an oblique angle in upwardly converging transversely spaced relation to each other comprising tabs extending from said central stilfening structure, said tabs being formed of a length of webbing secured centrally to said central stiiening structure between said body portion and the fabric strip of said stiifening structure and having obliquely downwardly extending portions extending through said loops and secured at their extremities to said central stiifening structure between said body portion and the fabric strip of said stirfening structure, said straps each extending from the secured end thereof between a guide strip and said body portion and thence through one of said loops and back between said guide strip and said body portion, and means for detachably adjustably securing the other ends of said straps to each other.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 766,863 8/04 Adams 128--78 945,359 l/ 10 Adams 12S-78 FOREIGN PATENTS 11,257 8/ 84 Great Britain.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT E. MORGAN, Examiner. 

1. IN A SHOULDER BRACE, A BACK ENGAGING BODY PORTION OF GREATER LENGTH THAN WIDTH HAVING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED STIFFENING STRUCTURES EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF FROM ADJACENT THE TOP END THEREOF TO ADJACENT THE BOTTOM END THEREOF AND INCLUDING A CENTRAL STIFFENING STRUCTURE, A PAIR OF UPWARDLY AND DIVERGENTLY EXTENDING FLAPS ON SAID BODY PORTION AT THE UPPER CORNERS THEREOF, STRAPS EACH HAVING AN END SECURED TO AND EXTENDING FROM ONE OF SAID FLAPS, A PAIR OF GUIDE STRIPS EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF SAID BODY PORTION ADJACENT THE LOWER CORNERS THEREOF, SAID GUIDE STRIPS BEING SECURED TO SAID BODY PORTION ADJACENT THEIR ENDS, A PAIR OF METAL LOOPS THROUGH WHICH SAID STRAPS EXTEND, MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID LOOPS EXTEND AT OBLIQUE ANGLE IN UPWARDLY COVERGING TRANSVERSELY SPACED RELATION TO EACH OTHER COMPRISING TABS EXTENDING FROM SAID CENTRAL STIFFENING STRUCTURE, SAID STRAPS EACH EXTENDING FROM THE SECURED END THEREOF BETWEEN A GUIDE STRIP AND SAID BACK PORTION AND THENCE THROUGH ONE OF SAID LOOPS AND BACK BETWEEN SAID GUIDE STRIP AND SAID BODY PORTION, AND MEANS FOR DETACHABLY ADJUSTABLY SESURING THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID STRAPS TO EACH OTHER. 